Aeroméxico Becomes First Non-US Carrier to Win APEX Best Global Airline in North America Award
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Today, APEX CEO Dr. Joe Leader attended an Awards Ceremony in the Aeroméxico hangar at Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez (MEX) to celebrate the crowning of Aeroméxico as 2026 APEX Best Global Airline in North America based entirely on independently verified passenger feedback. Cirium was also in attendance to recognize that Aeroméxico had won the coveted award of being the most on-time global airline in 2025, marking the second year in a row the carrier has achieved the milestone.
“Aeroméxico today becomes the first airline outside the United States to ever secure APEX’s Best Airline in North America distinction in APEX’s five-decade history,” Dr. Leader explained. “Based on a detailed review of the data, this recognition reflects a significant and sustained improvement in product quality, customer care, service delivery, and on-time performance, collectively elevating Aeroméxico into the top tier of airlines around the globe.”
Aeroméxico is the World’s Most On-Time Airline, Twice
“It is incredibly hard to run an on-time airline at the best of times,” stated Cirium CEO Jeremy Bowen, who was also in attendance. “Doing it in 2025 with soaring passenger demand and with global challenges across the industry makes the performance of Aeroméxico even more remarkable.”
“Over the past five decades, [APEX has] worked with every major in the world, and none has gone through such a miraculous ascent as Aeroméxico.”
– Dr. Joe Leader, APEX
During the ceremony, Aeroméxico CEO Andrés Conesa took to the stage to deliver a speech in Spanish, translated by APEX Insights. “I want to start by thanking the 17,000 members of the Aeroméxico family, because our being here is the result of teamwork […] this achievement is yours,” he stated. “This year, we […] depart[ed] within 14 minutes or less of the scheduled time on 90 per cent of flights.
“We transported 25 million passengers last year. So, being at the average versus being the best means that 4 million customers arrived on time who otherwise would not have. That is the magnitude of leading compared to simply being average. It is very, very important. And the difference versus second place, instead of being 0.3 [per cent] as it was in 2024, is now three points. That is more than 10 times the gap we had in 2024. So, not only did we once again become the most punctual airline in the world, but we were by far the most punctual airline in the world,” Conesa said.
He went on to point out that Aeroméxico’s completion factor, or reliability index, is 99.7 per cent, which he said is “practically the highest in the industry.” He added, “Only 0.3 per cent of over 200,000 flights we operated were canceled, which is also a milestone at global level.”
A Closer Look at Aeroméxico’s $1B Transformation
On the topic of Aeroméxico becoming APEX Best Airline in North America, Conesa once again recognized the importance of the airline’s employees. He also noted that the carrier has invested $500 million in new technology each year for the past two years, which he believes is the reason Aeroméxico has surpassed a Net Promoter Score of 50 for the first time in its history.
In particular, he highlighted the success of a new crew‑assignment system to “maximiz[e] both quality of life and […] productivity for all crews;” its weather anticipation technology; the better provisioning of parts at individual stations; and finally the 19 new Boeing 737 MAX and 787 jets that it took delivery of in 2025.
“Having a modern fleet gives you greater reliability, because of course they require less work, less maintenance than older aircraft, which in turn lets you have productivity and reliability,” outlined Conesa.
“I want to start by thanking the 17,000 members of the Aeroméxico family, because our being here is the result of teamwork.”
– Andres Conesa, Aeroméxico
Regarding Aeroméxico’s in-flight product, Conesa cited the years-long work it took to create consistency across its fleet, and all with a focus on premium offerings. He also heralded “the extraordinary onboard service that distinguishes [its] great and beloved airline.”
Conesa’s comments come days after Aeroméxico Chief Digital and Customer Experience Officer Andrés Castañeda Ochoa highlighted the airline’s transformation in terms of in-flight entertainment and connectivity during a keynote speech at the recent APEX TECH event in LA, wherein he told delegates how it was focusing on AI and personalization to elevate the passenger experience.
More Exciting Updates to Come in 2026
Moving forward, Conesa said passengers will soon benefit from reopening of the carrier’s refurbished Salon Premier lounges at MEX. “On the international side we are going to have a new à‑la‑carte menu with a premium selection of wines and mixology,” he said. “On the domestic side, we are going to have a sushi bar from renowned chefs, and phone booths with noise cancellation to provide privacy.” They are both due to open by the end of the first half of 2026.
Furthermore, he announced a new app, which he hopes will make the travel experience more seamless for all customers.
“Only 0.3 per cent of over 200,000 flights we operated were canceled, which is also a milestone at global level.”
– Andres Conesa, Aeroméxico
Conesa concluded that he was proud that Aeroméxico was achieving reliability and profitability at the same time: “There is nothing that gives me more satisfaction than seeing all of this reflected in growth, in more jobs, and better‑paid jobs for everyone.”
These latest achievements build on Aeroméxico’s prior accolades. In 2025, the carrier was awarded APEX Best Entertainment in North America and APEX Best Seat Comfort in North America. It has also been recognized as an APEX Five Star Global Airline for 2026, marking the seventh time it has received the award. “Over the past five decades, [APEX has] worked with every major in the world, and none has gone through such a miraculous ascent as Aeroméxico,” acknowledged Dr. Leader.
APEX, the Airline Passenger Experience Association, analyzes more than one million passenger votes annually across nearly 600 airlines around the globe, drawn from travelers who routinely fly multiple airlines to provide a global benchmark grounded solely in customer voice and data.